a local guide and travel blog

Menu

The Junction Craft Brewery in Toronto

I consider myself very lucky to live in the Junction neighbourhood in Toronto. It’s an ultra-unique area with fantastic restaurants, furniture stores, a farmers market from May – October, and a BIA that hosts fun annual events throughout the year. In fact, in the New York Times’ new article listing 52 Places to Go in 2016, where Toronto is listed as No. 7, they hailed the Junction as “a former industrial area, that has emerged as Toronto’s most stylish neighborhood for its bars, live music and coffee shops.” #winning!

When we moved to the neighbourhood just over a year ago, we couldn’t wait to visit the Junction Craft Brewery. Craft beer is religion throughout pretty much everywhere now, and we were so excited to have a brewery with such a great reputation just a 10 minute walk from our front door.

We’ve now visited the Junction Craft Brewery on many occasions. Sometimes, we just drive by and pick up beer for home, but most of the time, we walk over and sit in the tap room/retail store where they brew it all, and enjoy glass after glass. The brewery and tap room can be hard to spot if you’re not looking for it, but it’s certainly worth the visit. You sit and drink the beer surrounded by the casks that brew and hold it. It’s not fussy, and it’s all designed as a nod to the train junction from which the entire neighbourhood got it’s name.

All Aboard!

The Junction Craft Brewery’s signature beer is the Conductor’s Craft Ale, which they describe as “a ‘hopbacked’ hybrid ale utilizing British, German and American brewing techniques.” It’s one of my husband’s favourites, and you can find it, along with the Brakeman’s Session Ale, and the Engineer’s IPA, at the Ontario LCBO (And now Loblaws!), as well as in bars and restaurants throughout Ontario.

My favourite thing about the Junction Craft Brewery, is that in addition to the beers listed above, they brew and offer an incredibly large number of other types of beer to their tap room/retail store guests. These beers are brewed in smaller batches. There’s a huge chalkboard in the tap room that’s made to look like a train station schedule board. It outlines all the beers they currently offer on tap and for purchase. There are always great ones to try! I most recently tried the Achterbahn Dunkel, which was incredibly delicious, and I always have a glass of the Stationmaster’s Stout, a dark and creamy brew. They also list all the beers that are coming soon! This always gets us excited to visit again. You can bet I’ll be in line to try their Winter Warmer Dark Ale and their Chocolate Porter when they’re ready!

The Retail Store

Achterbahn Dunkel 10oz

The Junction Craft Brewery offer their guests tastings in 5oz ($2.25), or 10oz ($4.50) glasses. They also offer flights of four 5oz glasses. You can also buy bottles and growlers to takeaway. If you’re planning a party and want to impress your friends, you can also order kegs and casks of Junction craft beer to be delivered to your house!

The beer on tap and sold in bottles and growlers does change from time to time, so it’s always a good idea to check their website for what they’re offering. Or just show up and be pleasantly surprised!

The Junction Craft Brewery hosts various events throughout the year. One event I desperately wanted to attend last year was the Yoga and Beer Tasting Event – an hour long yoga class followed by a beer tasting – WHAT?! But it was sold out! I’m watching like a hawk for it to come up again this year! They also host bingo nights, Oktoberfest festivities, concerts and more, as well as attend various other events throughout Toronto to promote their beer.

The Junction Craft Brewery is located at Unit #101 – 90 Cawthra Avenue in Toronto. Their retail store/tap room hours are as follows: Thursday : 4pm – 9pm; Friday : 4pm – 9pm; Saturday : 11am – 9pm; Sunday : Noon to 5pm. To stay up to date with all the excitement, check their website regularly, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

I highly recommend a visit as soon as possible. Grab your beer-drinking friends and family and get going!